After BJP and Congress, chief election commissioner SY Quraishi hasnow taken on the BSP for protesting against the election commission'sorder to wrap the elephant and party supremo Mayawati's statues toensure level playing field.

Quraishi asked Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawatishould think before criticising the EC order and said the commissionhas issued similar orders to remove or cover pictures of chiefministers, Prime Minister and ruling party leaders during elections.

"She is a senior leader. She should think before making suchcomments," Quraishi said when asked about Mayawati's criticism on thecommissions order to cover statues of BSP's poll symbol 'elephant' andthose of her own.

Mayawati had dubbed the commission's decision as "one-sided" and aninsult to party founder Kanshiram.

Quraishi advised the BSP not to make adverse comments against thecommission as other political parties can also demand raisingpedestals in government parks for displaying their poll symbols.Maya cover-up

The CEC explained that the commission was trying to create a levelplaying field for all political parties and there was nothingextraordinary about the order. The commission has instructed the UPgovernment in October 2010 to cover the statues during elections whilerejecting a petition seeking demolition of the statues.

"Should we not cover the symbol of a political party or (the statue)of its leader just because it is big in size and spectacular,"Quraishi asked.

The commission issued a detailed explanation for its decision to wrapthe statues and said Kanshi Ram's statues have not been coveredbecause the rule does not apply to dead leaders.

The commission also brushed aside Mayawati's claim that it wasanti-Dalit and expressed distress at her claims.

"It (the commission) expects a higher sense of responsibility andConstitutional decorum from major political parties and theirleaders," the statement read.

The statement also said that the commission was not willing to engagefurther on the issue during the election process.